Girl Dies In Plainfield House Fire, 1 Child Hospitalized: Police

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A young girl was killed, another child was hospitalized and 21 others were displaced from their home Sunday after a large house fire in Plainfield, according to Plainfield Police.

The fire occurred early Sunday morning, at about 1:20 a.m., inside a two-and-a-half story building on North Avenue in Plainfield, Deputy Chief Joseph Franklin told Patch.

Upon arrival, heavy smoke and and fire were coming from multiple areas of the building, Franklin said. Fire and police pulled occupants out the building by ladder from the second and third floors.

Simultaneously, Franklin said fire crews entered the home to confine and extinguish the fire, as well as search for trapped occupants.

While searching for occupants, a young girl was found dead at the scene, according to Franklin. Her age is yet to be determined.

Another child was rushed to Hackensack Meridian Health JFK Medical Center in Edison for smoke inhalation. Franklin said no other injuries were reported.

Red Cross volunteers provided 23 people in four families with emergency assistance for temporary lodging, food, clothing and other immediate needs, according to a tweet.

The Medical Examiner also rushed to the scene, and Union County investigators are currently investigating the cause and origin of the fire, according to Franklin.

No injuries to fire or police personnel were reported, Franklin said.

A video posted to YouTube shows the extent of the damage that the fire caused.